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. 2022 Apr;44(2):143-168.
doi: 10.1177/10755470211072245. Epub 2022 Jan 25.

Gene Drives in the U.K., U.S., and Australian Press (2015-2019): How a New Focus on Responsibility Is Shaping Science Communication

Aleksandra Stelmach  1 , Brigitte Nerlich  2 , Sarah Hartley  1
Affiliations

Gene Drives in the U.K., U.S., and Australian Press (2015-2019): How a New Focus on Responsibility Is Shaping Science Communication

Aleksandra Stelmach et al. Sci Commun. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Gene drive is a controversial biotechnology for pest control. Despite a commitment from gene drive researchers to responsibility and the key role of the media in debates about science and technology, little research has been conducted on media reporting of gene drive. We employ metaphor and discourse analysis to explore how responsibility is reflected in the coverage of this technology in the U.S., U.K., and Australian press. The findings reveal a rhetorical strategy of trust-building by evoking the moral attributes of gene drive researchers. We discuss the implications of these findings for the communication of new technologies.

Keywords: buzzwords; gene drive technology; metaphors; responsibility; science communication.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The rise of reporting on “gene drive” in English-language media. Source. Factiva, search period between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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